The National tribune., 1887-05-26

shot cut both Of Josh's legs of just below the
knees and he was left for dead. Twenty-three
years had flown away upon phantom wings,
and during that time / had forgotten that such
a person as Josh Kirchncr ever lived.
While thus communing with myself, and as
If in response to my question, comrade ap-
preached and asked if i had seen Josh kirchner.
Not since 49," replied.
"Well," said he, Just 60 over to the Ma
tional House. and you'll see him there as chip
per as ever"
I rolled up my papers, and after tueking
them into my pocket, walked over 10 the Ma
tiOnai, expecting TO meet some relative OF Josh's,
perhaps brother. On entering the Office of
the hotel my attention was attracted by IA
miliRr voice; the same voice that quarter Of
a century ago often inquired, Who's got any
chawin' terbacky2" and if it had asked the
same question now would probably have lied,
just al / used to, and replied, haven't"
j knew Josh Kirchner was dead. The evil
dence was not circumstantial, for | saw him
killed, yet there was his voice staring me in
the ace-mctaphorically. On entering the bar
room i was paralyzed with astonishment, for
there surrounded by group Of comrades, stood
Josh, looking SO natural that my eyes became
moist the moment saw him. / wish was
an artist so that / might with startling fdel-
iiy portray the scene at
THAT THRILLING MOMENT.
At first the boys did not notice me, and /
! quietly slid into a seat where / could watch
Josh. His clothes had superannuated appear
auce and bis hair was turning gray. / had
seen his limbs shot away, yet here he was as
spry as a ballet girl. / was unable to diagnose
the mystery or establish an alibi. The fash
ing eye, the heaving bosom. the heroic pose, all
vigorously proclaimed that Josh was not de-
funct 10 any very great extent.
/ am not certain that this reminiscence
4 a - IL. - 4.H.- n
| called for something hot 10 cure cold that
expected 10 have. Then it was that Josh caught
sight Of me. Grasping my hand with hy-
draulic grip, be fairly yelled:
Bono, old boy, how ar yer"
was unable TO reply. Shaking hands with
dead man, with both legs shot of, was the
most profound sensation j had ever expert
enced. j stared at him in unaffected horror,
but finally managed 10 ask:
Josh, has the dead returned TO life?"
"oh, sec" he replied; you're troubled
bout that Chan n'sleryille bizness. No, stree, ]
never were dead up to the present date"
But" said ], your legs were shot off,
thinking that would clineh my argument
Yes, that's fact; but set down an I'll tel
you all bout IL.
"You recolleck, probably. that after nv svs
tenn were distributed among the brush there a
Chan'sleryille, the 10th Oshkosh moved Of
an left me fur the buzzards TO TOOst on. Wall
laid right there fur two days an nights a
helpless as q piece Of picked tripe. On tn
mornin' Of the third day party Of Confed
diskiyered what were left Of me- an was maxim
'rangements ter plant the remains, when
sorter put in feeble protest. They seemed Z
think it were ALFRED mean fur me to kicl
when ] wasn't ft fur nothin'
BUT TBIRD-cLAss FUNERAL.
an / guess they'd ha' finished the Job then
D 1t hadn't bin fur young Surgeon, who said b
Q wanted my carcass TO 'speriment on.
r AFTER considerable 'ranglin' the young felle
/ carried his pint an was tOted OF 10 one Z
0 their hospitals The doctor ampitated my leg
I Ia fust-class style just below the knee-jintl
, Then be selected a pair Of legs from pil
: lyin' near by, trimmed the ragged edges smooth
: took hunk Of shOemaker's wax an' stuck 'ef
q on ter my stumps, an III be teetotally skinne